Portable signal device



1. i. G'TNN.

PORTABLE SH AL DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED DEC 13,1918.

1 344,082. I Patented J une 22, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEEI l.

J. E. GENN.

PORTABLE SIGNAL DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED use 13, 1918.

Patented J une 22,1920.

2 SHEETS-Sm. 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. GENN, I or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR To STEWART-WARNER SPEEDOMETER CORPORATION, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. GENN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in thecounty of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Signal Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

Thepurpose of this invention is to providea portable signal device of the type employing a forcibly vibrated diaphragm designed for heavy duty, especially on outdoor work and adapted to be readily moved about and set 'up temporarily at any desired location. It is thus fitted for use as a signal on building operations, as a warning signal in mines or quarrieswhere blasting is done, or in warfare as an alarm in the'event of a gas attack. The invention comprises various features andielements of the structure hereinafter described and shown in the drawings as indicated by the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, section being taken substantially in a plane parallel toone'of thediaphragms and showing the interior construction of the device including the driving train for the tooth wheel which vibrates the diaphragm.

Fig. 2 is a section taken transversely with respect to Fig. 1 at a plane indicated at line 2-2 on Fig. 1 and indicatingv the mode of engagement of the toothed cam wheel with 'the contact buttons of the two diaphragms.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of one form of signal fitted'with two horns for discharging the sound from] both diaphragms in the same direction. g I

Fig. 4 is a top plan view similar to Fig. 3, but showing a modification in which the horns discharge in opposite directions.

Fig. 5 is a detail elevation partly'in section showing a swivel mounting bracket for securing the signal to a vertical surface.

Fig. 6 is an elevation partly in section showing a modified mounting devicein the form of a post or stake to which the casing of the alarm is swivelly attached at the top.

Fig. 7 is a detail section showing a further modification of the mounting means consisting in a heavy wood screw secured directly to the casing of thejalarm device.

From Figs. '1 and 2 it will be seen that the signal device consists briefly of a casing,

Specification of Letters Patent.

PORTABLE SIGN AL DEVICE.

1, preferably provided with two substantially parallelkliaphragms or drum heads, 2 and 3, inclosing a toothed wheel, 4, journaled for rotation between the two diaphragms, 2 and 3, with its corrugated periphery simultaneously in contact with the contact buttons, 5 and 6, of said diaphragms respectively. The wheel, 4, is rigidly carried on a shaft, 7, provided with a pinion, 8, WhlClI meshes with a drive gear, 9, on a shaft, 10, fitted outside the casing, 1, with a driving'crank, 11. The corrugated periphery, 12, of the toothed wheel, 4, has the form of'a truncated cone, so that its teeth stand in a slightly oblique relation to the planes of the diaphragms, 2 and 3, and the depth of engagement of said teeth with the contact buttons, 5 and 6, can be varied and regulated by longitudinal adjustment of the wheel, 4, with respect to said buttons. Such adjustment is preferablyefi'ected by moving the shaft, 7, in one bearing, the bearing provided by the bushing, 13, being somewhat elongated to permit of such adjustment, and. the other bearing formed by the bushing, 14, being longitudinally movable by reason of the threaded engagement of said bushing with the boss, 15, of the casin 1, in which it is mounted. The, shaft, 1s secured against endwise movement in the bearin Patented June 22, 1920.

Application filed December 13, 1918. Serial No. 266,527. I

of a lock nut, 20, impinging upon the boss,

15, of the casing. -The driven pinion, 8, is formed with an elongated face sufiicient to. maintain engagement of its teeth with the gear, 9, throughout the range of adjustment of the shaft, 7.

Preferably the driving train, 11, is mounted as shown at the opposite side of the casing, 1, from the adjustable bearing, 14, so'that the adjustment of said bearing, resulting in a variation in the quality of tone produced by the vibrating diaphragms,

2 and 3, maybe effected while the toothed wheel, 4, is being rotated by operation of the crank, 11; that is, operation of the crank does not in any way interfere with the adjustment of the bushing, 14:.

By reference to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the contact buttons, 5 and 6, of the diaphragms are so related to the toothed wheel,

f, that when the button, 5, is in engagement with the point of one of the teeth of the wheel, 4-, the button, 6, is positioned midway between two of such points, that is, in a depression of the corrugated periphery of the wheel. This permits the two diaphragms to movesimultaneously in the same direction and the contact button on the diaphragm to follow the contour of the corrugations remaining substantially continuously in contact therewith over the up-raise and depression. And, assuming that the position of the diaphragm, 3, illustrated in Fig. 2, is substantially its normal position, while the diaphragm, 2, is therein illustrated as yieldingly deflected away from its plane form, it will be seen that this relation of the parts requires less power to be applied to the shaft,7, for vibrating the diaphragms than if they were simultaneously moved inopposite directions, in which event both diaphragms would be resisting their deflection from normal position at the same time. lVith the present arrangement, the return of the diaphragm, 3, to normal position will even to some extent assist in the deflection of the other diaphragm away from its normal, if the teeth of the cam wheel, 4, are as shown,inclined at both sidesof their points.

It may be understood that, except as to the last mentioned feature, it is not essential that this signal device be made. with. two diaphragms, but when two diaphragms are employed, the casing may be fitted with two separate horns for discharging the sound emitted from each diaphragm. If it is desired to discharge the sound all in one general direction, these horns may be bent sub stantially at right angles, as illustrated at 21 and 22 in Fig. 3.; while if a general distribution of the sound is desired, the horns may discharge simply in opposite directions as shown at 23 and 2-1, in Fig. 4;. For increasing the convenience of either directing or distributing the sound of the device, the easing 1, should be swivelly mounted upon a vertical pivotal fixture as, for example, that illustrated in Fig. 5, in which a post member, 25, depending rigidly from the casing, 1, is carried in a socket, 26, formed integrally with a mounting base plate, 27, extending in a plane parallel to the axis of the socket, 26, for attachment to a vertical surface. If the direction of discharge of the sound is fixed during operation of the signal, the socket, 26,. may be slotted as at 28, and provided with a clamping screw, 29, for fixing the post, 25, against-rotation.

In Fig. 1there is illustrated a. mounting,

base or pedestal for attaching the signal device to a horizontal surface, the base plate or flange, 30, extending in a lane perpendicular to the axis of the S00 (et, 31. The post, 32, depending from thecasing, 1, is formed with a groove in which a ball, 33, may be caused by a set screw, 34, to impinge for fixing the casing, 1, against rotation. A similar swivel connection is shown in Fig. 6, formedin a socket, 35, attached to a stake or post, 36, which may be of any suitable length and adapted to be thrust or driven into the earth by reason of its pointed lower end, 37. For certain purposes, the post or stake may be reduced in dimensions to a mere lag screw, 38, as shown in Fig. 7, secured directly to the casing, 1, and adapted to en gage any. convenient wooden surface for temporary mounting of the signal.

As this signal is designed primarily for temporary. installation with a View to its prompt removal, it is providedwith a. carrying. handle which is preferably cast integratwith the casing, 1, as shown at 3901;.

Fig. 1. But, in operationof' the device, the

handle has the further function of steadying,

the. casing while the operating crank, 11, is

being. turned, particularly. where such mounting means are emlployed as illustrated in F igs.. 6 and 7. specially with the mounting post, 36, shown in Fig. 6, the crank shaft 10, would. be at a considerable distance from the ultimate point of support of the device, that is, where the post, 36, enters the ground; but, by steadying. the casing, 1, by grasping the handle, 39, with one hand, while operating the crank, 11, with the other, a very satisfactory action is obtained and simultaneously, if desired,the casing, 1, can

be rotated upon its swivel connection with p the mounting means, for distributing, the

sound over a wide area.

I claim:

1. In a signal mechanism comprising. a pair of diaphragms, each providedwitha contact button, a toothed wheel mounted to rotate between said diaphragms with. its corrugations in continuous operative contact with both of said buttons, said parts being disposed for contactof each button with the crest of the projecting; tooth of the wheel,

vibration from the diaphragms inabout the i same direction.

3. A mechanical signal device comprisin a casing, an operating crank ournale therein, mounting means extending from said casing and a steadying handle on the casing to cooperate wlth said mounting means in resisting the reaction of the operating crank.

4. A mechanical signal device comprisin a casing, an operating crank journale therein, a sound discharging horn extending from said casing, mounting means and a swivel connection between the same and said casing disposed to permit pivotal movement of the casing about an axis at right angles to the aforesaid horn, and a steadylng handle on the casing.

5. A mechanical signal device comprising a casing, an operating crank journaled therein, mounting means and a disengageable swivel connection between said mounting means and the casing together with a steadying handle on the casing.

6. A mechanical signal device comprising a casing, an operating crank journaled therein, mounting means extending from said casing and comprising a pointed post or stake adapted to be driven into the ground, and asteadying handle on the casing for resisting the reaction of the operatin crank.

n testimon whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at hicago, Illinois, this 6th day of December, 1918.

JOHN E. GENN. 

